The latest Connecticut DEEP State Of The Bears report has revealed a rise in human-bear conflicts, not only in frequency but in severity. In 2025, bears entered or broke into homes in 18 different Connecticut municipalities, a sharp contrast from the previous decade when fewer than 10 times annually. The root cause of these conflicts is access to human-associated foods (birdseed, trash, pet food) that are attractive to bears. Over the past six years, bears have entered homes 265 times and in 2025 alone, 40 incidents were reported. The report also revealed a trend of expansion into more cities and towns. The DEEP has issued several tips to protect residents and bears, including reminder that it is now illegal to intentionally feed bears.